Portugal and Australia could work more closely together to support East
Timor's development, Portuguese President Cavaco Silva said this week
after talks with Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.

Portugal's leader said this week ahead of the UN General Assembly he and
Rudd analysed the situation in Timor. Both parties agreed on the need
for "joint work between the two countries to help towards political
stabilisation, security, combat of poverty and creation of jobs," he
added.

The possibility of more frequent meetings between Lisbon and Canberra
officials on Timorese issues, as well as participation of Dili
representative in these contacts, was also brought up, said the
Portuguese leader.

During his UN visit Cavaco Silva also held talks with his counterparts
from Bosnia, Serbia and Montenegro "at the request of other states," a
presidential source said.

Lisbon attaches great importance to stability in the Balkans, where it
has deployed peacekeepers to international missions, and Cavaco Silva
visited the region soon after taking office, the same source added.

Portugal is among a group of states yet to recognise Kosovo's unilateral
independence declaration. Serbian President Boris Tadic is seeking
support for a motion to be presented to the General Assembly for the
International Court of Justice to rule on Kosovo's breakaway is within
international law. TPN/Lusa